With news swirling that Google is ditching the internal use of Windows over security concerns, Microsoft moved swiftly to counter-attack and defend the security posture of its flagship operating system.
Even as security experts questioned the wisdom of such a drastic Google move, Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc found irony in the issue, pointing to a report that Yale University had halted their move to Gmail (and their move to Google’s Google Apps for Education package) citing both security and privacy concerns.
Here’s LeBlanc on the Windows security posture:
When it comes to security, even hackers admit we’re doing a better job making our products more secure than anyone else. And it’s not just the hackers; third party influentials and industry leaders like Cisco tell us regularly that our focus and investment continues to surpass others….Microsoft makes the security of our customers a huge priority.
LeBlanc also posted a list of Windows security highlights:
Readers following this topic should also take a look at Steve Manzuik’s post: Operating System Choice Does Not Equal Security and Costin Raiu’s point that Windows isn’t to blame for the Aurora attack on Google.
hellnbak.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/osnotequalsecurity/
windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2010/06/01/windows-and-security-setting-the-record-straight.aspx
www.securelist.com/en/blog/2195/Google_abandoning_Windows_for_Linux_and_MacOS
threatpost.com/google-ditching-windows-over-security-makes-little-sense-060110/
threatpost.com/microsoft-defends-windows-security-posture-060210/